Christian television host Rick Green has sparked controversy by calling on President Donald Trump to award the Medal of Freedom to Colton McAbee, a former deputy sheriff convicted of assaulting a police officer during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Green made the remarks during an episode of Flashpoint, where he interviewed McAbee following the pardon he received from Trump.
“I think Holden’s case is one of the worst travesties of injustice that’s ever happened in our nation, but certainly out of the J6 cases,” Green told McAbee. “Someone that actually was helping fellow police officers, and they lied about him so much it’s so egregious when you look at what they did in the courtroom there in D.C.”
Green praised McAbee’s actions during the Capitol riot, referring to him as a “patriot” and “hero.” “I think you deserve the Medal of Freedom,” Green declared. “I think Donald Trump should bring you to the White House and put it on your neck himself and show to the American people who you are.”
McAbee’s case has been a focal point of both praise and criticism. According to the Department of Justice, McAbee was sentenced to 70 months in prison and ordered to pay $32,165 in restitution for his actions during the January 6 attack.
The DOJ detailed McAbee’s involvement, stating that he wore brass knuckle gloves and a bulletproof vest during the riot. His vest displayed two patches: one identifying him as a “SHERIFF” and another featuring the Three Percenter insignia, a symbol associated with far-right militia groups.
“McAbee stood up, yelled at the officer who had stepped out to assist, and then swung his arms and hands towards the officer’s head and torso,” the DOJ said in a statement. “McAbee made contact with the officer and was wearing the reinforced knuckle gloves at the time of the assault.”
Critics have condemned Green’s remarks as an attempt to rewrite the narrative of the Capitol riot. Many have pointed out that McAbee’s violent actions directly targeted law enforcement officers who were defending the Capitol from rioters.
While Trump’s decision to pardon McAbee has been celebrated by some of his supporters, it has also reignited debates about the implications of pardoning individuals involved in the January 6 attack.
As calls like Green’s continue to emerge, they highlight the deep divisions in public opinion about the events of January 6, the actions of those involved, and the decisions being made in its aftermath.